Yay for being back in a marathon training routine!  I entered the lottery for the Big Sur Marathon during the height of training for my first marathon in NYC, not expecting to get in.  As fate would have it, I was selected and I was suddenly not going to be a one-and-done marathoner!

I’m honestly very intimidated by Big Sur’s course.  The hills (particularly Hurricane Point) are no joke and I’ve heard that the wind off the ocean is a little brutal.  However, there is no doubt in my mind that it’s going to be absolutely stunning.  My general game plan for this training cycle is to attempt to make training harder than the marathon, so lots of hills and lots of miles are in store for me.  That said, the focus for week one was easing in and building back my base.

Here’s how my week went:

Monday – 4 miles easy

4 miles around Lake Merrit watching the sunset.  One of my goals for this training cycle is to run more sunrise runs than sunset runs (didn’t pull this off this week).  During NYC training I found that evening runs were more likely to be interrupted and I’m looking to be one step ahead.  Hopefully I’ll develop a habit.

Tuesday – 6.44 miles (speed workout)

I was pretty terrified for this workout but it actually went super well!  I hit the paces I wanted to and I really pushed myself.  I’m proud!  Workout was 1.5 miles easy and 3 strides to warm up.  Then a 10 minute tempo (7:28 avg) followed by a 5 minute easy jog.  Next 4 x 200m with 2 minute rests between each interval.  1.5 mile cool down.

Wednesday – Rest day

Originally I was meant to use this rest day to go to yoga but it was pouring rain and my bike got stolen so it just didn’t happen.  I foam rolled and snuggled my fur children while I started researching new bikes.

Thursday – 3.6 miles easy

This first week of marathon training coincided with the 2018 Oscar nominations being announced.  For me this meant I spent all of the free time I had either in a movie theater or on Netflix plowing through the nominated films.  On Thursday my plan to fit my run in was to run home from the movie theater that was 3 miles from my apartment.  The neighborhoods between the movie theater and my apartment turned out to not be the safest feeling I have ever run through so it didn’t exactly make for a pleasant run.  I’m still glad I fit the miles in, but it’s not a route I’m planning to repeat any time soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday – Rest day

I took an extra rest day this week because I woke up feeling very sick and with a very sore left hip.  At the time of writing this weekly recap I’ve come to the conclusion that my hip issues are because it’s been forever since I went to yoga.  Going to be better about that in Week 2.

Saturday – 10 miles

First long run of training!  I ran a 2 mile warm up (9:08 avg) then moved into a 6 mile tempo.  The goal for these miles was to keep the pace around 8:30-8:40.  When looking at my average pace for the tempo it seems like I pulled it off (8:30 even).  But my first mile was 8:17 and the 5th was 9:00 so… not quite.  The other 4 miles were solidly between 8:25 and 8:35 so at least I executed for part of the tempo.  I finished with a 2 mile cool down at 9:36 and felt strong for most of the run (not that 5th tempo mile though – lol).

Sunday – 3 mile Run for the Galgo’s 5K

My friend and I had found a 5K that benefited Galgo rescue from Spain and knew we needed to run it.  We became friends through our Italian Greyhounds’ Instagram accounts and are both very passionate about our sighthounds.  I was very very sore from Saturday’s long run so I knew I was going to just use the race as a shake out.  It was a beautiful morning and I loved seeing the Galgos and Greyhounds participating.  Next year I’ll have to bring Squidward.

And like that week one is done!  My legs are very sore, but I’m feeling good.  I am going to go back to yoga next week and that should help.  Between that and foam rolling I’m hoping my body will respond well to the building mileage.

Week one = 27 miles